HARARE -- Suspended former Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) councillor Francis Zimunya has declared that he will challenge Wellington Nyatanga for the ZIFA chairmanship post when his term ends in March. (Pictured: ZIFA chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya has sought advice from Fifa on Francis Zimunyas eligibility to lead Zimbabwean soccer )Zimunya becomes the second high profile administrator to openly challenge Nyatanga after Premier Soccer League chairman Tapuwa Matangaidze said he was not seeking re-election and was instead going for the ZIFA top post.
Zimunya, who in 2004 was suspended for bringing the game of football into disrepute, said he was ready to fight his ban in order to go for the ZIFA chairmanship whose nomination for candidates has already opened.
The ZIFA polls have aroused a lot of interest because the winner will goon to attend the Fifa Congress that precedes the start of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in June. ?But before dreaming of the top post, Zimunya will have to overcome another hurdle.
According to ZIFA chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya, the former northern region chairman is still suspended and cannot hold a post in Zimbabwean football.
Although his four year suspension for bringing the game of football into disrepute expired in August 2008, Rushwaya said Fifa have not responded to a letter from ZIFA with regards to the matter.
The letter written to Fifa secretary general on 19 February 2009, a copy of which is in the hands of Radio VOP reads in part, “We hereby request your confirmation on the lifting of the four year ban for the eight former ZIFA councillors whose ban ended on 16 August 2008. Your advice on the above mentioned request will be greatly appreciated.”
In a similar case Benedict Moyo who was suspended along with Zimunya was barred from participating in the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association elections because of the suspension.
However Zimunya said it was ZIFA that suspended him in the first place with Fifa only endorsing the ban and therefore there was no need to seek clarification from the world soccer governing body because the local authority knew very well that the ban has expired.
Post published in: Football